Murder in Moonlit Square by Paul Waters


Murder in Moonlit Square

 by Paul Waters



Murder in Moonlit Square by Paul Waters

was published on 15th January 2026 by No Exit Press.

My thanks to the author and publisher for sending me a copy to review and to 

Random Things Tours for inviting me onto the Tour.





Synopsis


When semi-retired Irish nun Sister Agatha Murphy meets Avtar Mehta round the back of his historic Delhi hotel, they form an instant bond over a sneaky smoke and good gossip. Then a street robbery outside the hotel, a dead body inside it, and the disappearance of a pilgrim guest bring the local police to the hotel, determined to close their cases quickly, and with them the Delhi Haveli Hotel. Sister Agatha and Avtar must race to stay one step ahead of the police, the Indian secret service and a hidden killer – as well as keeping their sense of humour through a terrorism scare in the run up to Christmas on the colourful streets of old Delhi.







My Thoughts




I absolutely loved Murder in Moonlit Square. It is so refreshing to read a murder mystery that is a little bit different to the vast majority in this genre. Setting it in India with the different customs and cultures is interesting and quirky.

I love Paul’s choice of characters and Sister Agatha Murphy and Avtar Mehta are brilliant and you soon feel as though you have known them for ages, feeling the angst and frustrations with them.

Some of the plot feels farcical at times, but in a good way - and it will have you turning the pages rapidly to find out what happens next in between Sister Agatha and Avtar sneaking up onto the roof for a sneaky cigarette to mull over the developing scenarios that they find themselves in.

What I also liked is the glossary of Indian language , and some Irish ones, at the back of the book which gives another layer to how the story has been written in order for the reader.

I am hoping that there will soon be another instalment in the Havali Hotel Mystery series for me to read .



About Paul





Paul fell in love with India when he fell in love with his wife. He’s from Belfast. She's from Delhi. He’d already set his first book, a thriller called Blackwatertown, in Ireland, so she suggested he set his next one in India because they’re there so much. Paul has been a night club cook in New York, he made Pelé his dinner, smuggled a satellite dish into Cuba, was an award-winning BBC journalist, co hosts the We’d Like A Word books and authors podcast, and is co-organiser of the Chiltern Kills crime festival and the Khushwant Singh LitFest London.




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